The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Insider: Soccer Field Sod Installation Complete
July 06 | Men's Soccer
To help chronicle the Lee Jackson Soccer Field renovations,
Akron Insider Josh Harris will be checking in to
GoZips.com with periodic updates throughout the historic project.
Harris recently took a tour of the new facility with UA Associate
Athletics Director for Facilities and Operations Paul Hammond for
his first installment.
If you are going to be heading down to Lee Jackson Field for
Zips soccer this Fall, you are going to have to look a little
further North and a little further West for the playing field. But
not to worry, the move has certainly agreed with the home of Akron
men's and women's soccer.
To be more specific, the playing surface has relocated
approximately 35 feet to the north of it previous location and 35
feet west. The fence that acted as the boundary to the practice
field adjacent to Lee Jackson Field is now the boundary of the
soccer complex. This eliminates the sidewalk between the two fields
that previously was in that space. Fans will also notice that the
large, concrete walkway that existed between Lee Jackson Field and
the tennis courts is virtually non-existent.
Looking for another change from "old" field LJF? Well...look no
further than the field itself. The process began in mid-April. The
existing sod was scraped away, followed by the layer of topsoil
underneath. Once the canvas was clean, new perimeter drainage was
put in as well as strip drains that run throughout the field.
Drains underneath the field now are placed a little bit closer
together than previously to allow for better runoff. A sufficient
layer of gravel was added as well as a mix called "Rootzone" which
is 80 percent sand and 20 percent soil. This mixture allows better
carrying away of moisture that previously spelled doom for the
playing surface.
As the field nears the end of this nearly three month process, the
beautiful grass surface that allows the men's and women's teams to
play as they do is finally being put into place. The sod that has
been laid down is specifically grown for climates such as the one
that it will exist in on Lee Jackson Field.
Here's a bit of information that will make you the smartest Zips'
fan in the room: the new sod being laid down at LJF was grown
in...Wisconsin. It was cut from a sod-growing farm in the Badger
State on a Sunday and on campus at UA two days later.
Why Wisconsin? The location of the growing (cold, snowy winters,
lake effect conditions, etc.) matches the climate and weather
conditions in Akron fairly well and assures little "shock" for the
sod from growth location to Lee Jackson Field. This will help with
the installation, acclimation (which should take about 45 days),
and maintenance of the playing surface.
In the coming two weeks, fans will see the lighting for Lee Jackson
Field being put into place as well as the relocation of the
scoreboard from the northwest corner of the field to behind the
west goal. Concrete slabs are almost complete for the addition of
seating behind the west goal as well as on the top of the hill at
the north end of the field.
The foundation is also being installed and concrete poured for the
new stands and press box that will be in place for the start of the
2010 season. We'll share more on each of these areas in our next
installment. Until then, start getting ready for all of the Zips'
seasons this fall, hope to see you around campus and....GO
ZIPS!
---
Harris, who earned his bachelor's degree in public relations
from The University of Akron in 2001, is currently pursuing a
second degree from The University in middle level education. He has
been working Zips' sporting events diligently since 1998 and serves
as the public address announcer for UA men's soccer and women's
basketball games.
